Herne Bay man charged with various offences after fracas at Hungry Horse Wheatsheaf restaurant in Whitstable

A mum has told how she and her terrified daughters were caught up in a violent confrontation at a family pub.

Kerry Greensmith was forced to seek medical help for Callie, seven, and four-year-old Tilly, after fearing they had been covered in mace spray during the fracas at the Hungry Horse in Chestfield.

A man was reportedly sprayed with the noxious substance and a barmaid glassed during the alleged brawl on Friday evening.

The incident happened in The Wheatsheaf. Picture: Google Street View.

Mrs Greensmith, 33, from Greenhill, said: “We were just waiting for our food when it all kicked off.

“This spray was like a water pistol and going everywhere.

“Suddenly there were a load of blokes on top of this man and the barmaid walked past me with blood all over her face. Apparently she’d been hit with a glass.

“It was all happening between us and the girls. They were sitting on high stools so couldn’t get down to run away.

"We were just waiting for our food when it all kicked off... It was like something from Grand Theft Auto..." - Kerry Greensmith

“They were screaming, so my husband jumped over the blokes and grabbed them.

“Someone else was shouting ‘call the police, call the police!’. It was like something out of Grand Theft Auto.

“The girls were saying their noses were stinging so we took them to Estuary View Medical Centre.”

The girls were checked over by medics and given the all clear, but were left shaken after the incident at 6.50pm.

Mrs Greensmith said: “They were scared all night after that, asking if it was going to happen again. It’s not the sort of thing you’d expect in a family pub.”

A spokesman for the Wheatsheaf Hungry Horse said: “We pride ourselves on providing a safe and welcoming environment for families and were therefore shocked by this unusual incident in a pub which has always enjoyed a trouble-free past.

"Our team handled the situation quickly and professionally and the pub is open as normal.”

Robert Jacobs, a 53-year-old bricklayer from Grand Drive in Herne Bay, was arrested and charged with affray, criminal damage to property and possessing a weapon for the discharge of a noxious substance.

He is also accused of attempted wounding, threats to kill and threats to damage/destroy property.

A 42-year-old woman, also arrested in connection with the incident has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.